Building an Outstanding Student Research Journal in the IR Stephanie Davis-Kahl, Scholarly Communications Librarian Michael Seeborg, Professor of Economics Illinois Wesleyan University

Research & Analysis Writing & Presenting Publication & Dissemination Archiving & Preservation Students are scholars! Publishing in the repository brings students into the full cycle of scholarly communications.

Digital Commons provides dedicated support so that students and faculty can focus on the scholarship.

Customizable workflows Single- or double-blind review Unique editor views Supports multiple editors Automated reminders Professional editorial-management software

How can I optimize my journal for discovery through Google and Google Scholar? What about copyright and permissions? Can you help me make my journal site look more dynamic? I need to talk to someone who’s done this before! How should we organize our volumes and issues? Dedicated consulting and support

Student Roles

Librarian Roles teach advise liaison

Teaching & Learning

Undergraduate Journals reinforce curricular activities Writing across the curriculum Writing across the curriculum Capstone courses Capstone courses Honors projects Honors projects

Keys to Encouraging Quality Research In-class In-class Require original research Require original research Provide opportunities to revise Provide opportunities to revise Provide opportunities to review other research Provide opportunities to review other research Co-curricular Co-curricular Conference presentation Conference presentation Undergraduate publication Undergraduate publication

Co-curricular Activities Should Reinforce Curriculum Goals Disciplinary depth Disciplinary depth Active learning Active learning Discipline specific “proficiencies” Discipline specific “proficiencies”

Undergraduate Publishing is a Good Co-curricular Activity Undergraduates benefit from the peer review process. Undergraduates benefit from the peer review process. Peer pressure provides incentives for better research and writing. Peer pressure provides incentives for better research and writing. Student editors benefit by being involved in critical review, teamwork, and leadership. Student editors benefit by being involved in critical review, teamwork, and leadership. Student authors develop writing and reasoning skills Student authors develop writing and reasoning skills

Using the Journals in Class Peer review of published work: Assign students to write critical reviews of published articles Peer review of published work: Assign students to write critical reviews of published articles Peer review of submitted articles: Assign students to be part of the journal review process Peer review of submitted articles: Assign students to be part of the journal review process Submit work: Encourage students to polish and submit their own research Submit work: Encourage students to polish and submit their own research

Faculty Advisor Role is Limited Faculty advisors should be very involved in: Faculty advisors should be very involved in: Establishing organizational structure for journal (Editor in Chief, Associate Editors, Reviewers). Establishing organizational structure for journal (Editor in Chief, Associate Editors, Reviewers). Establishing editorial guidelines Establishing editorial guidelines Content Content Documentation requirements Documentation requirements Page limits Page limits Review criteria Review criteria Student Editors have responsibility for Student Editors have responsibility for Accepting and rejecting submissions Accepting and rejecting submissions Marketing the journal Marketing the journal Etc. Etc.

Organizational Structure can be Simple Faculty Advisor for general supervision Faculty Advisor for general supervision Student Editor-in-Chief to guide operations and make final decisions on article acceptances Student Editor-in-Chief to guide operations and make final decisions on article acceptances Associate Editors with specialized responsibilities Associate Editors with specialized responsibilities Reviewers Reviewers A network of Faculty Advisors from other universities could encourage their best students to submit and review articles. A network of Faculty Advisors from other universities could encourage their best students to submit and review articles.

Benefits & Challenges: Faculty Perspective Benefits Provides examples of quality undergraduate research to upper- division students Rewards student authors for doing excellent work Develops critical thinking skills & leadership skills Cultivates linkages with alumni and colleagues at other schools Promotes productive relationships between faculty and library professionals Challenges Frequent transition of student editors and authors Soliciting the best work Assuring consistent application of editorial criteria in the review process

Benefits & Challenges: Librarian Perspective Benefits Integrated into Capstone experience Engaged faculty advisor and students Well-developed set of criteria Training/development for reviewers Open Access education Challenges Consistency Marketing Assessment Recruiting and involving outside advisors and reviewing

The Big Picture: What we Know and Don’t Know Open access undergraduate research journals are feasible and can complement curricular goals. Open access undergraduate research journals are feasible and can complement curricular goals. Many institutions have the resources in place to establish undergraduate journals. Many institutions have the resources in place to establish undergraduate journals. Need more comparative research on other models for open access undergraduate journals. Need more comparative research on other models for open access undergraduate journals. Should complete more assessment of student learning via undergraduate journal participation. Should complete more assessment of student learning via undergraduate journal participation.

Questions? Thanks to Peter Goodwin, Ann Taylor, Dave Stout and J.G. Bankier at bepress, as well as to our students and colleagues at Illinois Wesleyan University!